Abandon Ship (1957) (VHS)
Director: Richard Sale
*** Rating
The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Though this is a quote from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, it also describes this movie and what the captain of a sinking ship has to deal with when deciding the fate of those under his command.
Abandon Ship begins after a luxury ship hits a water mine and sinks. Alec Holmes (Tyrone Power) becomes the unwilling captain of a nine man lifeboat that is now holding twenty-six people. With no distress signal sent, the group must weather harsh seas and storms. Holmes is left to make hard decision about who to save and who not to, since supplies are limited.
The best performance of this movie would have to be Tyrone Power. Abandon Ship would be the last entry in his filmography, he would die a year later of a heart attack, and thankfully he went out with a bang. His ability to act with great force and convey tension made for some very nice edge of your seat moments. Power proves that if he has the right script, he can turn in a very dramatic performance.
This movie is not for everyone because ethics is thrown out the window in life or death situations. Though it is a very bleak movie, the acting and script are top-notch. This movie and Alfred Hitchcock's Lifeboat would be an excellent double feature for a movie night.
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